阵列接收系统的噪声温度分析

针对射电天文抗干扰技术对于射电天文观测设备灵敏度的影响,分析了评估自适应波束形成技术对阵列接收系统的噪声温度影响.首先通过噪声信号模型,获取了影响系统噪声温度变化的参数,并在此基础上研究了天线增益、接收机增益和耦合性等系统参数的不确定性对于噪声温度的影响,最后利用仿真实验分析了理想系统条件下当前主要的自适应波束形成算法对于系统噪声温度的影响.结果表明基于自适应波束形成的抗干扰方法在天文信号源和干扰信号源重合的情况下已不再适用.     

射电望远镜天线增益测量方法的综述

本文对射电望远镜天线增益Ｇ的几种主要实测方法：包括用标准角锥嗽叭增益理论值的“过渡法”和用已知流量的射电源作校准源的“射电天文法”进行了综述和评价。给出了应用这些方法对云台射电望远镜天线增益的实测结果和精度     

云南天文台射电望远镜天线增益的测量

本文简述了应用“射电天文法”对云南天文台射电望远镜天线增益的实测结果和精度分析 .实测结果表明 :云南天文台 3.2cm波段射电望远镜 2m天线增益为 41 .75± 0 .2 3dB .2 1cm波段 1 0m射电望远镜天线增益为 41 .1 2± 0 .1 7dB     

基于Python-casacore的射电测量集文件生成方法

测量集(MeasurementSet, MS)是射电天文领域重要的文件格式,并逐渐成为射电天文数据存储、分析与共享的标准格式,得到越来越多的天文数据处理软件的支持,在阿塔卡玛大型毫米波天线阵(Atacama Large Millimeter Array, ALMA)、LOFAR等射电望远镜系统中已经深入应用。但长期以来,测量集格式在国内应用较少,介绍了测量集格式的基本概念、目录结构和字段设计,在此基础上讨论了利用Python-casacore调用底层Casacore生成测量集文件的方法,将实现程序集成到射电天文模拟校准成像库(Radio Astronomy Simulation, Calibration and Imaging Library, RASCIL),生成仿真观测测量集文件,并利用CASA(Common Astronomy Software Applications)软件加以验证。所完成的测量集文件生成软件在满足平方千米阵工程桥接阶段工作需要的同时,也为其后续的成像、观测模拟和文件存储提供了重要支撑,对我国射电天文数据处理工作有较高的参考价值。     

射电天文毫米波接收机强度校准

射电天文强度校准的目的是将接收设备对天文观测源的响应转换为天文意义上的流量.在常用的射电天文强度校准方法中,厘米波校准主要使用噪声注入模式,就是将1个标准噪声信号在馈源和极化器之后注入到接收机内部进行校准.由于毫米波微波器件的小型化导致噪声注入模式不易实现,加之注入模式可能引入噪声,因此BTL (Bell Telephone Laboratory)最早提出使用斩波轮技术进行毫米波校准,就是在馈源口面交替放置或者移除常温黑体进行校准;之后BIMA (Berkeley Illinois Maryland Association Array)又提出使用常温、热负载进行校准; ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter Array)对单、双负载校准方式的精度进行计算后,认为双温度负载校准方式有潜力实现1%的校准精度,并最终设计出机械臂式双温度负载校准机构;此后, GBT (Green Bank Telescope) 4 mm波段制冷接收机设计出旋转盘式双温度校准机构; OSO (Onsala Space Observatory)最新研制的3 mm波段制冷接收机设计出波束切换式双温度校准机构.中国科学院新疆天文台QTT(Qi Tai Telescope)项目的启动推动了毫米波接收机研制进程,为提高毫米波强度校准精度,相关的技术预研已经开始.     

用射电天文方法测量小型天线的增益

本文讨论了以太阳和月亮作为校正源,用射电天文方法测量小型天线增益的基本原理和几种实测方法,并列举和比较了这些方法的实测结果。     

射电望远镜天线增益测量方法的综述

本文对射电望远镜天线增益Ｇ的几种主要实测方法：包括用标准角锥嗽嗽叭增益理论值的“过渡法”和用已知流量的射电源作准源的“射电天文法”进行了综述和评价。给出了应用这些方法对云台射电望远镜天线增益的实测结果和精度。     

基于FS系统对乌鲁木齐VLBI射电望远镜进行天线测量

在天文观测中射电望远镜性能参数的好坏直接影响到观测数据质量,为了保证观测质量,提高观测效率,需要对天线性能进行测量.当前进行天线测量的方法有场地测量法和射电天文法,不同的方法应用范围和效果不同.对于大型天线而言采用射电天文法进行天线测量高效快捷.针对VLBI射电望远镜,介绍了使用终端FS系统对天线参数进行测量（基于射电天文法）的方法和过程,以乌鲁木齐南山25 m天线增益和指向精度测量作为范例,重点叙述了测量的方法和步骤,并对该方法进行了讨论.     

基于OpenCL的射电干涉阵成像网格化算法实现

天文软件开发与应用中迫切需要在单机环境下进行高性能的科学数据处理,由于机器配置不同,采用传统的CUDA+GPU技术存在明显的局限,不利于天文软件的快速移植和无缝运行。针对明安图射电频谱日像仪数据处理中的网格化(Gridding)算法,采用并行计算OpenCL技术进行多线程编程实现。实验结果表明,基于OpenCL实现的网格化算法不仅能够在图形处理器上运行,而且能够在纯中央处理器上运行。当选择在图形处理器上执行时,算法的执行效率与基于CUDA实现的网格化算法执行效率大致相当,但算法不局限于NVIDIA GPU,解决了算法对CUDA+GPU的依赖;同时算法也能在纯中央处理器上较快速地执行,适用于单机模式下进行天文软件的开发和测试,也便于天文软件的应用与推广。     

相对论流体力学初步(为射电天文研究之用)

本文对相对论流体力学的基本理论及最近的进展作了统一的和连贯的叙述,以便为射电天文研 究提供一个简明扼要的基础材料。 在类星体和星系核的射电天文的观测研究中,已经揭示出那里存在着相对论运动效应(在0.1—10pc尺度范围内)。而在更大尺度上,例如最近在天鹅座A的西北射电瓣内测到了～60kpc长的射电喷流中,流动也可能是相对论性的。因此不论在小尺度还是大尺度的射电现象的研究中,都需要考虑相对论效应。这些年来,在河外射电天文学中经常要利用相对论流体力学的研究结果,有些工作直接是为射电天文而进行的。本文的目的就是根据这种需要(特别是什对射电喷流的研究的需要),对有关的相对论流体力学研究的基本结果,加以统一的和连贯的叙述,以便为射电天文的研究提供一个基础材料。     

Adaptive scale model reconstruction for radio synthesis imaging

A sky model from CLEAN deconvolution is a particularly effective high dynamic range reconstruction in radio astronomy,which can effectively model the sky and remove the sidelobes of the point spread function(PSF)caused by incomplete sampling in the spatial frequency domain.Compared to scale-free and multi-scale sky models,adaptive-scale sky modeling,which can model both compact and diffuse features,has been proven to have better sky modeling capabilities in narrowband simulated data,especially for large-scale features in high-sensitivity observations which are exactly one of the challenges of data processing for the Square Kilometre Array(SKA).However,adaptive scale CLEAN algorithms have not been verified by real observation data and allow negative components in the model.In this paper,we propose an adaptive scale model algorithm with non-negative constraint and wideband imaging capacities,and it is applied to simulated SKA data and real observation data from the Karl G.Jansky Very Large Array(JVLA),an SKA precursor.Experiments show that the new algorithm can reconstruct more physical models with rich details.This work is a step forward for future SKA image reconstruction and developing SKA imaging pipelines.     

Explosive and Radio-Selected Transients: Transient Astronomy with Square Kilometre Array and its Precursors

With the high sensitivity and wide-field coverage of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), large samples of explosive transients are expected to be discovered. Radio wavelengths, especially in commensal survey mode, are particularly well-suited for uncovering the complex transient phenomena. This is because observations at radio wavelengths may suffer less obscuration than in other bands (e.g. optical/IR or X-rays) due to dust absorption. At the same time, multiwaveband information often provides critical source classification rapidly than possible with only radio band data. Therefore, multiwaveband observational efforts with wide fields of view will be the key to progress of transients astronomy from the middle 2020s offering unprecedented deep images and high spatial and spectral resolutions. Radio observations of Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) with SKA will uncover not only much fainter bursts and verifying claims of sensitivity-limited population versus intrinsically dim GRBs, they will also unravel the enigmatic population of orphan afterglows. The supernova rate problem caused by dust extinction in optical bands is expected to be lifted in the SKA era. In addition, the debate of single degenerate scenario versus double degenerate scenario will be put to rest for the progenitors of thermonuclear supernovae, since highly sensitive measurements will lead to very accurate mass loss estimation in these supernovae. One also expects to detect gravitationally lensed supernovae in far away Universe in the SKA bands. Radio counterparts of the gravitational waves are likely to become a reality once SKA comes online. In addition, SKA is likely to discover various new kinds of transients.     

基于分布式执行框架的低频射电干涉阵列成像管线优化

平方公里阵列(Square Kilometre Array,SKA)项目是建设全球最大射电望远镜的国际合作项目,其灵敏度和测量速度将比当前所有的射电望远镜都要高出一个数量级.连续谱巡天是SKA的主要观测模式之一,基于连续谱成像建立巡天区域的标准星图,将能为后续天文科学研究奠定重要基础.银河系与河外星系全天默奇森宽场阵列拓展巡天(GaLactic and Extragalactic All-sky Murchison Widefield Array survey eXtended,GLEAM-X)是2018—2020年利用SKA先导望远镜默奇森宽场阵列(Murchison Wide-field Array,MWA)二期拓展阵列开展的新的射电连续谱巡天项目,观测期间积累了大量的低频巡天观测数据.海量观测数据的自动化、大批量处理是SKA望远镜项目所面临的的最大挑战和难题之一,基于分布式执行框架的成像管线优化经验将有助于解决海量数据处理问题.详细介绍了GLEAM-X成像管线并对其进行整合和改进,在中国SKA区域中心原型机(China SKA Regional Centre Prototype,...     

On post-SKA radio astronomy

It is suggested that the development of the SKA will drastically change the face of radio astronomy in the 21st Century. A FAST-style SKA would admit observations of low contrast features, and would be the best design for studying the `dark ages' of the Universe (x≫ 1) where sub-arcmin total power instruments can usefully be employed. To date there have been no proposals for post-SKA, billion square-metra instruments; we speculate that mobile communication systems can be used. In the very distant future, SKA multi-beam systems could be used to collect signals reflected by Solar system bodies such as the asteroid belt. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Radio frequency interference measurements in Indonesia

We report the first measurements of radio frequency spectrum occupancy performed at sites aimed to host the future radio astronomy observatory in Indonesia. The survey is intended to obtain the radio frequency interference (RFI) environment in a spectral range from low frequency 10 MHz up to 8 GHz. The measurements permit the identification of the spectral occupancy over those selected sites in reference to the allocated radio spectrum in Indonesia. The sites are in close proximity to Australia, the future host of Square Kilometre Array (SKA) at low frequency. Therefore, the survey was deliberately made to approximately adhere the SKA protocol for RFI measurements, but with lower sensitivity. The RFI environment at Bosscha Observatory in Lembang was also measured for comparison. Within the sensitivity limit of the measurement equipment, it is found that a location called Fatumonas in the surrounding of Mount Timau in West Timor has very low level of RFI, with a total spectrum occupancy in this measured frequency range being about 1 %, mostly found at low frequency below 20 MHz. More detailed measurements as well as a strategy for a radio quiet zone must be implemented in the near future.     

Electronic Multi-beam Radio Astronomy Concept: Embrace a Demonstrator for the European SKA Program

ASTRON has demonstrated the capabilities of a 4 m², dense phased array antenna (Bij de Vaate et al., 2002) for radio astronomy, as part of the Thousand Element Array project (ThEA). Although it proved the principle, a definitive answer related to the viability of the dense phased array approach for the SKA could not be given, due to the limited collecting area of the array considered. A larger demonstrator has therefore been defined, known as “Electronic Multi-Beam Radio Astronomy Concept”, EMBRACE, which will have an area of 625 m², operate in the band 0.4–1.550 GHz and have at least two independent and steerable beams. With this collecting area EMBRACE can function as a radio astronomy instrument whose sensitivity is comparable to that of a 25-m diameter dish. The collecting area also represents a significant percentage area (∼10%) of an individual SKA “station.” This paper presents the plans for the realisation of the EMBRACE demonstrator.     

The dynamic radio sky

Transient radio sources are necessarily compact and usually are the locations of explosive or dynamic events, therefore offering unique opportunities for probing fundamental physics and astrophysics. In addition, short-duration transients are powerful probes of intervening media owing to dispersion, scattering and Faraday rotation that modify the signals. While radio astronomy has an impressive record obtaining high time resolution, usually it is achieved in quite narrow fields of view. Consequently, the dynamic radio sky is poorly sampled, in contrast to the situation in the X-ray and γ-ray bands. The SKA has the potential to change this situation, opening up new parameter space in the search for radio transients. We summarize the wide variety of known and hypothesized radio transients and demonstrate that the SKA offers considerable power in exploring this parameter space. Requirements on the SKA to search the parameter space include the abilities to: (1) make targeted searches using beam forming capability; (2) conduct blind, all-sky surveys with dense sampling of the frequency–time plane in wide fields; (3) sample the sky with multiple fields of view from spatially well-separated sites in order to discriminate celestial and terrestrial signals; (4) utilize as much of the SKAs aggregate collecting area as possible in blind surveys, thus requiring a centrally condensed configuration, and; (5) localize repeating transient sources to high angular precision, requiring a configuration with long baselines, thus requiring collecting area in both a centrally condensed “core” array and sufficient area on long baselines.     

The development of radio astronomy

Following the detection of extraterrestrial radio waves in 1932 by Karl Jansky, radio astronomy developed quickly after World War II. It established itself soon as a new branch of astronomy with today's outstanding record in the detection of new phenomena in space. These have been honoured by a number of Nobel prizes. Radio astronomy largely depends on technical developments in receiver technology, antenna systems, electronics and computing power. Ever shorter wavelengths down to the submm‐wavelength range became accessible, resulting in new exciting discoveries. However, now and in future care must be taken, in particular for the lower frequency range, of harmful man‐made interferences, which might mask the weak signals from space. New international facilities with orders‐of‐magnitude higher sensitivity like ALMA and SKA are planned or under construction. Space‐borne observatories like PLANCK will detect weak fluctuations of the cosmic microwave background, which will constrain cosmological models with an unprecedented accuracy.     

Rfi Mitigation And The Ska

Radio frequency interference (RFI) has plagued radio astronomy from its inception. The Workshop on the Mitigation of Radio Frequency Interference in Radio Astronomy (RFI2004) was held in Penticton, BC, Canada in July 2004 in order to consider the prognosis for the RFI problem, in particular as it impacts the planned Square Kilometre Array (SKA). This paper concludes that RFI is unlikely to be a “showstopper” in achieving SKA science goals, but that improved RFI mitigation technology may nevertheless be essential in order to take advantage of the vastly improved sensitivity, bandwidth, and field of view. Reported results provide some optimism that the desired improvements in RFI mitigation technology are possible, but indicate that much more work is required.